Pilots Defeat Centenary College 80-72 in Shreveport Showdown
November 06, 2007
Shreveport, La. - The LSUS Pilots men's basketball team knocked off a NCAA Division-1 program for the second time this season with an 80-72 victory over Centenary College in the "Shreveport Showdown" at the Gold Dome on Tuesday night.
The much anticipated contest between the two schools located just 5 miles apart did not disappoint those in attendance.
There were two questions most local college basketball fans sought an answer to entering tonight's game: 1) Is Josh Porter as good as he was before his neck injury, and 2) Can the LSUS Pilots really beat Centenary?
The answers: Yes, and Yes!
Senior Josh Porter led all scorers with 22 points, including three three's from 25, 27 and 30 feet away, while also adding a game-high seven rebounds to his stat line in the Pilots victory.
The Pilots struggled to find any rythym offensively in the first half, shooting a dismal 24% from the field. However, stellar defensive play and Centenary being saddled with early foul trouble helped the Pilots stay afloat.
Trailing 35-29 at the break, LSUS found themselves in an unfamiliar spot being down at halftime for the first time this season. The Pilots responded by becoming the aggressor on both ends of the floor, forcing Centenary to turn the ball over on the defensive end and by attacking the basket on the offensive end.
With 14 minutes left to play and trailing by seven points, LSUS went on a 17-2 run that completely swung the momentum of the contest in the Pilots favor. During that four minute run, LSUS forced five Centenary turnovers and allowed just one basket. An old-fashioned three-point play and a three-point basket by former Centenary Gent Clarke Jackson sparked LSUS during that four minute span.
The Gents managed to cut the Pilots lead down to two on several occasions late in the contest, however, a late 7-0 run capped off by a J'Quincy Jones steal and dunk sealed the game for the Pilots.
Defensively, LSUS' aggressiveness forced 26 Gents turnovers for the game, while offensively it resulted in the Pilots attempting 36 free throws and caused Centenary star guard Tyrone Hamilton to foul out with just over 2 minutes left to play in the game.
The Pilots shot only 38% from the field compared to 44% for Centenary, but the Pilots outrebounded the home team 41-39 for the game and turned 26 Centenary turnovers into 26 points.
LSUS senior Jamon Morris added 16 points for the Pilots, while senior J’Quincy Jones and sophomore point guard Jared Stevenson each scored in double-figures with 13 and 10 points respectively.
Centenary guard Chase Adams posted 18 points for the Gents in the losing effort.
The LSUS Pilots (2-0) will head over to Tyler on Thursday night to face the Texas College Steers (3-0) at 7:00 PM. The game can be heard over the internet via Teamline (http://www.teamline.cc/teampage?teamcode=7111).
